Close Enough to Touch – a play about sex, heartbreak…..and toilets, is on for a 2-night run at Waterside Arts Centre, Sale.
To all intents and purposes it’s a one-man show, a vivid insight into the life of a confused soul credited simply as “M”, portrayed by Stefan Race. His life and career are going nowhere and he is torn apart by the love for his girlfriend, Isla, and his overriding desire for anonymous man-on-man sex in public toilets. Through both his heartfelt emotion and his sinewy movements which manage to convey both the changes of scene and the passing of time, we are taken on his journey through excitement, elation and to the depths of despair as he battles with conflicting lust and loyalties. We experience the thrill (and danger) as he guides us through the steps of seduction in his local gents, the furtive glances, the act of endlessly pretending to wash one’s hands as a diversionary tactic, the short-lived high from a successful encounter. There are both humorous and heart-breaking moments, and much credit should be given to the very effective lighting and the back projections which convey everything from rain-soaked windows through to dark, dank banks of victorian urinals.
Deftly directed too by Chery Martin.
Close Enough to Touch is on for one more night, Saturday 17th October. Grab a ticket
We also enjoyed a lovely saving at the bar with our trusty Canal St Card.
Tim Long for Canal St Media